Apollo Home Healthcare Limited-Merseyside

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm.

At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. Staff listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

The provider encouraged transparency and openness about safety. Staff understood their responsibility to raise concerns and report incidents. Opportunities to learn from safety events were communicated to staff to help support improvement and prevent recurrence. One member of staff told us, “[Managers] send an update or a learning opportunity to all staff involved to better guide us.”

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. They made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services.

For example, the provider worked with different agencies, processes were followed and relevant information was gathered and shared to help ensure continuity of care was maintained.

One family member told us how staff had supported their loved one as they transitioned from child to adult care provision, and how successful this had been.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Staff concentrated on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. The provider shared concerns quickly and appropriately.

Systems and processes were in place to protect people from the risk of abuse. Staff had completed safeguarding training and were confident about reporting any concerns about people's safety. One member of staff confirmed, “If I had any concerns, I would raise it immediately.”

Family members told us they were confident staff provided safe care. One commented; "I felt [Name] was in safe hands from the very beginning, I feel very lucky [Name] is receiving care from Apollo.”

An external social care professional added, “[The service] are quick to contact us should any issues occur including any safeguarding and near misses.”

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them.

Risks to people were identified and measures were in place to minimise the risk of harm to people. An on-call system was in place for managing any emergency situations.

People’s family members told us they thought risks were well managed. One commented, “Staff are aware of any risks to [Name].”

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.

Regular safety checks were carried out on people's home environment and equipment, to ensure both people and staff were kept safe.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs.

The provider recognised high-quality care was achieved when the staff delivering it were well matched clinically, personally, and culturally to the people they supported. The provider prioritised appropriate matching between care staff and people, helping to ensure people received personalised care that reflected each person’s unique circumstances. This started at the process of recruitment.

To support effective staff matching, job advertisements were co-produced with people to help ensure they reflected personal interests, values, and qualities they felt were important. One person told us, “I am very happy with the staff team.”

Staff completed a thorough induction which included mandatory training, specialist clinical modules, and bespoke development tailored to people’s needs. Staff told us they received all the training they needed.

Family members told us they felt staff were highly trained and competent. One explained, “Staff are very competent and well trained, not only in a general sense but well trained to meet [Name’s] needs.”

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly.

Staff had completed training in the prevention and controlling of infection and had access to best practice guidance to help support their practice. The provider also has a dedicated IPC Lead Nurse to help oversee and promote good practices.

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened.

Medicines were safely managed. Medication administration records (MARs) were kept up to date. Medicines policies and procedures and other best practice guidance was available to staff to help inform and promote good practice.

Staff with responsibilities for managing medicines had completed training and underwent regular competency checks. Staff were also able to explain the action they would take in the event of a medicines error.